Actor-director Kamal Haasan’s controversial movie Vishwaroopam, facing a two week-ban in Tamil Nadu due to its alleged anti-Muslim content, was released in more than 80 theatres in Kerala today.
The multi-lingual film was mainly released in B-class theatres under Kerala cine exhibitors association (KCEA).
It was also screened in multiplexes and some theatres run by the Kerala film exhibitor’s federation (KFEF), which had declined to exhibit the movie following Haasan’s decision to premier Vishwaroopam on DTH format, industry sources said.
As per the initial report, the film has been screened in 86 theatres in the state, where about 25 per cent of the population comprises Muslims.
“It is mainly screening in B-class theatres run by KCEA. But, some theatres run by the federation also screened it today,” V. Mohanan, president, KCEA, told PTI.
He said Haasan’s home production Rajkamal Films International was releasing the movie directly in Kerala.
KCEA, which runs more than 230 movie houses in the state, would explore possibilities to expand the screening of the movie to more theatres in the coming days, he said.